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The hits just keep on coming: Michael Rapaport cast as the latest heavy

Oh, man! We get to meet the former gator poachers. This sounds like it could shape up to be another great season. I wonder how much we'll get to see Boyd and Ava, considering their current predicament.

Premiere date: January 7th!

David Koechner and Alicia Witt will also be in the soon-to-premiere fifth season

I liked the Elmore tribute at the beginning. It was an okay start. I won't say "disappointed" but it sort of lacked the bang I'd been hoping for, but I'm assuming that will accumulate as time goes on.

I thought it was pretty good, but I know what you mean. The writers just seem to be on surer footing when they keep the action in Harlan. There was a lot of exposition in this episode, and the pace seemed a little hurried. I'm hoping things will be a little more settled next week.

I don't know what it is, but I feel like this is going to be a more darker season.

I thought it was a good episode. For all the jumping around it still took its time to give us some nice moments with the supporting players. Oh, and Dave Foley!

I was happy to see Jason Gray-Stanford too

Spoiler

short-lived as his character was

as I liked his work on Monk.

Mr Sausage wrote: Oh, and Dave Foley!

This season is carrying on the series' tradition of casting comedic actors with Foley, Will Sasso, David Koechner, and perhaps Alicia Witt if you like me still remember her from Cybill. I thought almost everything out of Boyd's mouth in the first half of this episode was a riot, too. I was surprised that they ditched the ill-suited mob boss almost immediately, but his exit was a great piece of surprisingly gory violence reminiscent of Tobowolsky's exit last season. I wasn't sure about the casting beforehand but Michael Rapaport is a natural for the world of this series and I can't wait to see him invade Harlan County this season. Was also glad that for once a law enforcement character talking nonstop about their family wasn't killed off at the end (a nice bit of misdirection and acknowledgement from the producers there, I think). Mostly I'm just so happy to be back in the world of these characters again: at the end of the day, no other series currently airing gives me quite the level of joy and entertainment as Justified.

domino harvey wrote:FX exec sez next season likely to be series' last

A good thing can't last forever. I thought the season opener was top notch, and the new cast members seemed right at home in this universe. Can't remember the last time I saw Rapaport in anything good. My favorite moment in the episode was the brief exchange between Raylan and James LeGros - a clever variation on one of the funnies Al Swearengen/Seth Bullock moments on Deadwood. Great to have Justified back!

domino harvey wrote:FX exec sez next season likely to be series' last

RA is right, although I begrudgingly agree with it. FX is slowly gaining some ground with me (I still am not happy they canned Terriers) but this is unarguably my favorite show on the network.

domino harvey wrote: Was also glad that for once a law enforcement character talking nonstop about their family wasn't killed off at the end (a nice bit of misdirection and acknowledgement from the producers there, I think). Mostly I'm just so happy to be back in the world of these characters again: at the end of the day, no other series currently airing gives me quite the level of joy and entertainment as Justified.

Agreed on both counts.

Say what you will about Dewey but he's definitely improved the roster of girls at the mobile brothel.

RobertAltman wrote:My favorite moment in the episode was the brief exchange between Raylan and James LeGros - a clever variation on one of the funnies Al Swearengen/Seth Bullock moments on Deadwood. Great to have Justified back!

Speaking of which, has anyone seen Pronto, the Showtime TV adaptation of Leonard's book starring LeGros as Raylan? Is it worth tracking down a copy, even if it's likely nowhere near as strong as Justified?

I'm just glad we'll get another season on top of the one we have now. Though it's sad to hear FX was pushing for a seventh season-- I feel like I do with Treme, I could watch these characters for years to come

Loved seeing Avon Barksdale and Steve Harris from the Practice as the military-aspiring pair of thugs-- hope they show up again

Ditto.

Whoa: Turns out Wood Harris and Steve Harris are actually brothers in real life!

They're responsible for my favourite exchange in the whole episode:

Thug 1: You alright?
Thug 2: No. I got hit with a shovel!

Good news, Yost says they'll be back!

Also, I'm glad FX worked out their shit with Comcast so that this show is finally available OnDemand. I forgot to set the DVR last nite and thought I'd have to wait a week since FX only re-airs the show once after its initial night

I've wanted to see them work together for a long time.

Mr Sausage wrote:They're responsible for my favourite exchange in the whole episode:

Thug 1: You alright?
Thug 2: No. I got hit with a shovel!

Those kinds of little moments, when they turn clichés and tropes that are all too common in movie and TV dialogue around, are some of my favorite bits of this show.